CannaBiz: Research, legalization petitions for MMJ

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The Obama administration recently created a section on whitehouse.gov where citizens can petition the government. Among the early submissions is one from local medical marijuana scientist and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs professor Dr. Robert Melamede.

"Fund a clinical trial to determine the effectiveness of high-dose cannabis extracts for the treatment of cancers," is the title. A portion of the petition reads, "We spend billions every year treating cancers, while thousands do not survive the chemotherapy. There is growing anecdotal data, supported by the peer-reviewed science, that demonstrates cannabis extracts to be an effective treatment for many different types of cancer."

As of press time, the petition (tinyurl.com/melamede) had drawn about 150 signatures, leaving it 24,850 short of the number that the White House says would initiate an official response. Meanwhile, another cannabis-related submission, "Legalize and Regulate Marijuana in a Manner Similar to Alcohol," had drawn more than 61,500 signatures — the most on the site, though a response had not yet been issued by the administration.

Crouse, continued

On Thursday, Oct. 20, people organized by the Colorado Springs Medical Cannabis Council and Coloradans 4 Cannabis Patient Rights will hold their second protest of the prosecution of MMJ patient Bob Crouse (see "Fight for your right," Sept. 29, ReLeaf).

Crouse faces "one charge for cultivating medical marijuana and one for intent to distribute," says a news release. "Thursday's motions hearing will determine if Bob's cultivation of marijuana for his own medical purpose is protected by the Colorado Constitution and if police followed proper procedure when they arrested Bob for his plants."

Protesters will meet at noon at the El Paso County Courthouse (270 S. Tejon St.).

Keef crumbs

• Some employees in the Colorado medical marijuana industry have recently joined the state chapter of the United Commercial and Food Workers Union, necessitating the creation of a new division called "medical cannabis and hemp workers."

• According to a new Gallup poll, 50 percent of Americans now say they favor the legalization of marijuana.

"When Gallup first asked about legalizing marijuana, in 1969, 12% of Americans favored it, while 84% were opposed," reads the pollster's website. "Support remained in the mid-20s in Gallup measures from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s, but has crept up since, passing 30% in 2000 and 40% in 2009 before reaching the 50% level in this year's Oct. 6-9 annual Crime survey."